Vacuum Inner Wrapping With Traction Cables for Drone Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packaging methods fail to adequately protect products during transport, as they often lack sufficient padding, and hygroscopic materials can become exhausted, leading to moisture exposure and product damage, especially during sea transport.
Innovation Solution
A packaging method utilizing elastic traction cables to secure the product within an evacuable inner wrapping, eliminating the need for cushioning and hygroscopic materials, and integrating this packaging with a drone design featuring support legs and a stretched fabric for enhanced protection and aerodynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional packaging uses padding materials and hygroscopic packets to protect products, then product protection from impacts and moisture is improved, but package volume and weight increase, and protective materials are disposed of after single use
Solution Approach 1:
The inner wrapping is designed to be reusable after evacuation. Instead of being disposed of like conventional padding materials, the evacuated inner wrapping can be stored and reused for subsequent packaging operations, recovering the protective function without needing new materials each time.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner wrapping changes its physical state from expanded (containing air) to evacuated (vacuum state). This parameter change allows the same material to provide both cushioning volume when expanded and tight protective conformal contact when evacuated, eliminating the need for separate padding materials.
2Reliability
If sufficient padding is provided on all sides of the product, then impact protection is improved, but package volume increases and padding may be depleted during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The inner wrapping is a flexible film that conforms to the product shape. When evacuated, it creates a tight protective shell around the product, providing impact protection through the film's tensile strength and the vacuum pressure, without requiring bulky padding materials that increase package volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic traction cables are pre-tensioned before product insertion to create an initial protective structure. The inner wrapping is then evacuated to provide additional cushioning effect, combining mechanical pre-tensioning with vacuum-induced compression for enhanced impact protection.
3Reliability
If hygroscopic material is included to keep product dry, then moisture protection is improved, but the material capacity is exhausted during long transport and toxic materials are required
Solution Approach 1:
The inner wrapping is evacuated to create a vacuum or low-pressure environment that is inert to moisture and oxidation. This inert atmosphere protects the product from moisture and harmful gases without requiring hygroscopic materials that may become exhausted or require toxic chemicals for effective protection.
4Reliability
If outer walls are used in conventional packages, then product protection is improved, but aerodynamics during drone flight deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support legs are designed to be adjustable in length and configuration. During flight, they can be retracted or positioned to minimize aerodynamic drag. During packaging operations, they are extended to provide structural support for the inner wrapping evacuation and product centering, dynamically adapting to different operational requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides secure, moisture-proof transport without additional protective materials, ensuring product safety and efficient use of space, with the ability to monitor vacuum integrity throughout the transport chain.
Implementation Method 1
an inner wrapping (4), in particular a vacuum bag (4), held against elastic traction cables (6)
Implementation Method 2
After the product is inserted, the inner wrapping is closed and predominantly evacuated until the inner wrapping lies tightly against the product
Implementation Method 3
During evacuation, the dimensions of the wrapping shrink from the relaxed state to a smaller size due to the suction
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a packaging method, a transport package, and use of the packaging method for transporting products by means of a drone. According to the invention, a product to be packaged is placed in an open inner wrapping that is pretensioned on elastic traction cables in order to hold the product approximately centrally in an outer package. After insertion, the wrapping is closed and evacuated until it lies tightly against the product, and the traction cables are thereby further tensioned.